It has been suggested that Pille be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

Official mascot of the 2006 FIFA World Cup

Goleo VI, commonly known as Goleo, is the official mascot for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. Goleo takes the form of a lion, and is never found far from his sidekick, Pille, a talking football. Goleo is clad in a white football top with the number 06 written upon it, and is trouserless. The Goleo costume was fabricated by The Jim Henson Company, at a price of around €250,000. Image File history File links Please see the file description page for further information. ... Pille is one of the official mascots, along with Goleo VI, for the 2006 World Cup to be held in Germany External links FIFAs profile Categories: | ... Image File history File links GoleoIV.jpg Summary A picture of the World Cup 2006 Mascot, Goleo IV Licensing This is a copyrighted image that has been released by a company or organization to promote their work or product in the media, such as advertising material or a promotional photo... Image File history File links GoleoIV.jpg Summary A picture of the World Cup 2006 Mascot, Goleo IV Licensing This is a copyrighted image that has been released by a company or organization to promote their work or product in the media, such as advertising material or a promotional photo... The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th staging of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international association football world championship tournament. ... Each Football World Cup usually has its own mascot. ... The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th staging of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international association football world championship tournament. ... Binomial name Panthera leo (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms Felis leo (Linnaeus, 1758) The lion (Panthera leo) is a mammal of the family Felidae and one of four big cats in the genus Panthera. ... Don Quixote and Sancho Panza unsuccessfully confront windmills. ... Pille is one of the official mascots, along with Goleo VI, for the 2006 World Cup to be held in Germany External links FIFAs profile Categories: | ... A football is a ball used to play one of the sports known as football. ... The Jim Henson Company is a company founded in 1958 by puppeteer Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets. ... ISO 4217 Code EUR User(s) European Union; Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City, Montenegro, Kosovo, French Guiana, Réunion, Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte. ...

Goleo was unveiled as the World Cup mascot on November 13, 2004 during the German television program Wetten, dass..?, presented by Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer. He also appears in 2005 music video for Bob Sinclar's song Love Generation. November 13 is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 48 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Wetten, dass. ... Edson Arantes do Nascimento, KBE (born October 23, 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil), best known by his nickname Pelé, is a former Brazilian football player who is regarded by many as the greatest player of all time. ... Franz Beckenbauer (born September 11, 1945) is a famous German football player, coach and manager, nicknamed der Kaiser (the emperor) because of his elegant style, his leadership qualities and his domination on the football pitch. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A frame from Bob Dylans Subterranean Homesick Blues video. ... Bob Sinclar (real name Christophe LeFriant, born 1967) is a French record producer, DJ, remixer and owner of the label Yellow Productions. ...

The choice of a lion has been criticized for not being a German animal, but rather the emblem of historical rivals England and the Netherlands. Renowned designer Erik Spiekermann suggested that the mascot should have been an eagle (which appears on Germany's coat of arms) or even a squirrel as a symbol of the nation of frugality in his opinion. ^[1] First international Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Largest win Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Worst defeat Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in... Erik Spiekermann (born May 30, 1947) is a German typographer and designer. ... Genera Eagles are large birds of prey, who inhabit mainly the Old World, with only two species (Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle) in North America, a few in South America and three (White-bellied Sea Eagle, Little Eagle and Wedge-tailed Eagle) in Australia. ... Categories: Stub | German coats of arms ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Sciuridae. ...

Criticism has also been raised of the fact that Goleo does not wear any trousers. ^[2]

The name of the character can both be interpreted as Goleo! in Spanish, meaning "I score a lot of goals!" (from the verb golear), and as "Go Leo!" in English.

On May 16, 2006, the German licence holder to produce Goleo, Bavarian toy company "nici", filed for bankruptcy. One apparent reason could be very high licence fees of around €28,000,000.^[3][4] Other sources however quote much lower license fees of €3,500,000.^[5] May 16 is the 136th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (137th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• FIFA World Cup mascot

Goleo isst scheisse paraguayaner Each Football World Cup usually has its own mascot. ...

References

1. ^ http://www.c6-magazin.de/news/wm_2006/000900.php
2. ^ http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/0,1518,416510,00.html
3. ^ http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/0,1518,416510,00.html
4. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4989726.stm
5. ^ http://www.br-online.de/bayern3/fussball-wm-2006/wm-vor-ort/artikel/060519-razzia/index.xml

External links

• FIFA's homepage
• Financial problems with the manufacturer 'Nici'